Food for Thought: Can coffee fight bad breath?

Tuesday

Jun 30, 2009 at 12:01 AMJun 30, 2009 at 6:11 AM

Click inside for the weekly food rail, with items on bacteria-inhibiting molecules in coffee, an easy recipe for Spanish Rice, tips for making safe, tasty burgers, and more. Or check out the links below:

Food page: Homemade bread

Food Videos: This week, salmon with a twist

Kitchen Call: A penne for your thoughts

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In the News: Researchers brew coffee to fight bad breath

New research from Tel Aviv University finds that a coffee extract can inhibit the bacteria that lead to bad breath.

Coffee is known for causing bad breath, and the beverage, which has a dehydrating effect in the mouth, becomes potent when mixed with milk and can ferment into smelly substances.

But there are components in coffee that inhibit bad breath. The researchers hope to isolate the bacterial-inhibiting molecule and possibly use it as the foundation for an entirely new class of mouthwash, breath mints and gum.

Heat oil in a skillet and cook garlic for two minutes. Add onions and cook about 5 minutes, stirring often.

Add peppers and tomatoes, cover and cook about 5 minutes or until just tender. Mix into the cooked rice, add paprika, cover and cook until rice is heated through, about 5 minutes. Salt and pepper to taste, and garnish with the parsley on top. Serves 4.

-- Canton Repository

Tip of the Week: Safe, tasty burgers

Hamburgers are a summer staple. Here are tips for making sure your burgers don’t make anyone sick:

- Use a separate cutting board when prepping raw beef. Wash the board thoroughly in hot, soapy water using the same board for any other ingredients.

- Never put cooked beef back on the same plate you used for raw meat, and make sure to use clean utensils as well.

- Don’t leave cooked food sitting out at room temperature for more than two hours.

- Use an ovenproof or instant-read thermometer to prevent over- or undercooking. The minimum internal temperature for ground beef is 160 degrees Fahrenheit.

-- www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com

Did You Know?

Someone bid $1.68 million in an auction to win a steak lunch with billionaire businessman Warren Buffett.

Food Quiz

To what plant family do garlic, leek, chives, and onions belong?

A. Potato
B. Lily
C. Deciduous
D. Rose

(www.funtrivia.com)

Answer is at bottom of column

Wise to the Word: Malt

Malt liquor, malt vinegar and malted milk all share a slightly sweet powder made from grain.

Malting is a process in which barley (or another grain) is sprouted, kiln-dried and ground. The result is a slightly nutty, mellow complement for sweet flavors such as chocolate and vanilla. It is used in many foods, including baked goods and malted-milk powder.

-- Canton Repository

Number to Know: 380

Calories in a Chargrilled Chicken Club Sandwich from Chick fil-A -- www.chick-fil-a.com

An early fall cobbler with blackberries bubbling in their juice beneath a golden cream biscuit. A crunchy oatmeal crisp made with mid-summer's sweet nectarines and raspberries. Or a comforting pear bread pudding made with brioche to soften a harsh winter's day.